What is a Literature Review?

What is a Literature Review?

A literature review surveys scholarly articles, books, dissertations, conference proceedings and other resources which are relevant to a particular issue, area of research, or theory and provides context for a dissertation by identifying past research. Research tells a story and the existing literature helps us identify where we are in the story currently. It is up to those writing a dissertation to continue that story with new research and new perspectives but they must first be familiar with the story before they can move forward.

Purpose of a Literature Review

Identifies gaps in current knowledge

Helps you to avoid reinventing the wheel by discovering the research already conducted on a topic

Sets the background on what has been explored on a topic so far

Increases your breadth of knowledge in your area of research

Helps you identify seminal works in your area

Allows you to provide the intellectual context for your work and position your research with other, related research

Provides you with opposing viewpoints

Helps you to discover research methods which may be applicable to your work